Incised black-topped red polished beaker

You are here

This bell-shaped (or ‘tulip’) beaker is of a type characteristic of the classic phase of Kerma pottery. The red surface was created by application of ochre prior to firing in an oxidizing atmosphere and polishing with smooth stones/pebbles. The black top was attained by turning the beaker...

This bell-shaped (or ‘tulip’) beaker is of a type characteristic of the classic phase of Kerma pottery. The red surface was created by application of ochre prior to firing in an oxidizing atmosphere and polishing with smooth stones/pebbles. The black top was attained by turning the beaker over to place the upper portion in an oxygen-reduced atmosphere of burning organics/ash. This example has two incised lines along its rim.

Provenance

From Kerma, Cemetery S, Tumulus IV, grave 423 (K IV/423/2). 1913: Excavated by the Harvard University–Boston Museum of Fine Arts Expedition; assigned to the MFA in the division of finds by the government of the Sudan.
(Accession date: June 15, 2006)